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EMPIR presented at European Parliament

Dr Kamal Hossain, NPL's Director Research & International and EURAMET's Chairperson, along with Janko Drnovšek and Jörn Stenger (EURAMET Vice-Chairpersons), presented the proposed European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR) at the ITRE Committee meeting in Brussels. ITRE is the European Parliament's committee on Industry, Research and Energy and is therefore important for the ongoing EU decision-making process regarding EMPIR.

EMPIR is the successor programme to the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP), which funds collaborative research projects to meet Grand Challenges in areas such as Health, Industry, Energy and the Environment, and to progress fundamental measurement science throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

At the committee meeting, Dr Hossain summarised the success of the EMRP, which has almost 100 research projects already completed or under way. It has given Europe a world-leading and internationally-competitive position in measurement science by joining national measurement activities together at a time of global financial hardship.

EURAMET, the European Association of National Metrology Institutes, developed the new programme in partnership with the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 framework. It has a total envisaged budget of 600 million euros, with funding commitments shared by Member States and the European Commission.

Dr Hossain said: "Based on excellent science, which is a hallmark of metrology, our proposed new programme will address high-level metrological standards and grand challenges in the European and international context. Furthermore, it will develop new pathways to accelerate impact and innovation that will lead to real outcomes from the programme."

He went on to emphasise that EURAMET and its members are highly committed to increasing collaboration in order to build world-leading metrology capability in Europe that will enhance European competitiveness, innovation and quality of life in line with Horizon 2020 Objectives.